EarthBank Postdoc Research Fellow/ Research Fellow

• Faculty of Science / School of the Environment
• Full-time fixed-term position through to mid 2028
• Base salary will be in the range $82,057.75 - $109,246.18 (Academic Level A) and $114,824.05 - $136,048.72 (Academic Level B) + 17% Superannuation
• Based at our St Lucia Campus

About This Opportunity

We are seeking a motivated and collaborative Level A Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Level B Research Fellow to join The University of Queensland’s Node of the EarthBank Program — a newly established national geoscience initiative under NCRIS AuScope. EarthBank is a transformative program aimed at advancing Australia’s capabilities in geochemistry and geochronology through integrated data platforms, analytical facilities, and end-user engagement.

As one of two Queensland Nodes, UQ plays a critical role in developing and delivering EarthBank’s mission. The successful candidate will contribute to national research infrastructure through a combination of research, coordination of data integration efforts, and support for EarthBank-aligned projects. You will work closely with UQ’s research community and national collaborators to ensure the effective registration, quality, and utilisation of geochronological and geochemical datasets via the EarthBank platform, while also contributing to impactful research aligned with EarthBank’s goals.

This position offers the opportunity to engage in cross-disciplinary research, contribute to national and international collaborations, support student training and development, and shape the future of digital geoscience infrastructure in Australia.

Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Research: Conduct and publish high-quality research aligned with EarthBank’s goals. Lead or contribute to collaborative projects, develop proposals for research funding, and translate outcomes to end users. Coordinate the upload and curation of at least 250 samples annually to the EarthBank platform and contribute to data model development and refinement.
• Teaching: Support EarthBank’s academic mission by contributing to training workshops, seminars, and the integration of EarthBank tools and datasets into coursework and student research projects. Promote the use of EarthBank infrastructure among students and researchers.
• Supervision and Researcher Development: Supervise and mentor Honours and HDR students. Provide guidance on data submission standards and best practices in geochemical and geochronological data management. Contribute to building researcher capability through mentoring and collaborative development aligned with EarthBank.
• Citizenship and Service: Actively contribute to EarthBank’s collaborative national network through participation in regular meetings, outreach, and strategic planning. Support end-user engagement in laboratory settings, assist researchers in accessing EarthBank data, and facilitate collaboration across the research community. Engage with industry and government partners and contribute to service roles within the University.

Additional For Academic Level B

• Lead or co-lead research projects of national impact and take a primary role in at least one annual publication using EarthBank data or capabilities.
• Demonstrate a track record of effective supervision of Honours and HDR students to successful completion.

This is a research focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world, and within an environment where interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged.

At the core of our teaching remains our students, and their experience with us sets a foundation for success far beyond graduation. UQ has made a commitment to making education opportunities available for all Queenslanders, regardless of personal, financial, or geographical barriers.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and professional practice in academic contexts, we are proud to provide our staff with access to world-class facilities and equipment, grant writing support, greater research funding opportunities, and other forms of staff support and development.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements including hybrid on site/WFH options and flexible start/finish times, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.

About You

Level A

• Completion or near completion of a PhD in the discipline area, preferably with a strong focus on geochronology, geochemistry, or economic geology.
• An emerging profile in research in the discipline area, with demonstrated interest in geochemistry, geochronology, or other EarthBank-related domains.
• Demonstrated or potential ability to collaborate with or perform research in one or more of UQ’s major research platforms in geochemistry and geochronology (e.g. RIF, CMM, NRICH), and with academic expertise across the School of the Environment, Sustainable Minerals Institute, and related areas.
• Evidence of publications in reputed refereed journals and presentations at conferences.
• Evidence of contributions towards successfully obtaining external research funding.
• Some experience in meaningful internal service roles and contributions towards external activities.

Level B

• Completion of a PhD in the discipline area, preferably with a strong focus on geochronology, geochemistry, or economic geology.
• A growing profile in research in the discipline area, with demonstrated contributions to geochemistry, geochronology, or other EarthBank-related domains
• Demonstrated or potential ability to collaborate with or perform research in one or more of UQ’s major research platforms in geochemistry and geochronology (e.g. RIF, CMM, NRICH), and with academic expertise across the School of the Environment, Sustainable Minerals Institute, and related areas.
• A developing reputation and track record of publications in reputed refereed journals and presenting at conferences.
• Evidence of successfully seeking, obtaining and managing external research funding.
• A growing record of supervision of Honours and Research Higher Degree students to successful completion.
• Experience in meaningful internal service roles in conjunction with active contributions to external activities.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia and education check.

Visa Sponsorship may be available to suitable candidate. You can find out more about life in Australia’s Sunshine State here.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact UQ EarthBank Node Lead - Dr Renjie Zhou at renjie.zhou@uq.edu.au.

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

We Welcome Applications From All Individuals And Are Committed To An Inclusive And Accessible Recruitment Process. To Be Considered, Please Ensure You Upload

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Responses to the ‘About You’ section

Our strength as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. If you require an alternative method to submit your application due to accessibility needs or personal circumstances, please contact talent@uq.edu.au.

About The Selection Process 

As part of the Selection Process, applicants shortlisted for interview will be required to present a short seminar (15 min) to the interview panel. Requirements of the seminar will be provided with adequate notice to shortlisted candidates. 

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

Applications close 18 August 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-52772). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for the last week of August.

Applications will be reviewed as received. Candidates may be interviewed prior to the job closing date. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. The University of Queensland reserves the right to close this application process early.